Super Fast…Monday? – Jets at Falcons

Alright ladies and gents, the New York Jets are back on prime time and thank God it’s on the road. The Monday night kick-off pushed things back a little bit but we’re still giving you everything you need to know about tonight’s match-up against “Matty Ice” and the Falcons.

“Basically, if you do bad things during your life, God will send you to Giants Stadium on December 20, 2009 and force you to watch Jets-Falcons.”- Chris Celleti in his TBT Column

Dan’s “Two Cents”:

This game has the makings of something ugly, the odds are simply stacked against the Jets in this one. The Falcons are 1-3 and in desperate need of a win, playing against a Jets offense that was already pretty thin in terms of offensive play-makers and will be without their best wide receiver in Santonio Holmes. People say that there aren’t very many “must win” games this early in the NFL season but you have to imagine that the Falcons are looking at this as a must-win game and will not be an easy out in their building, on a fast track, and in prime time in front of the nation.

That said, I don’t think the Falcons are a particularly great team right now considering how banged up they are and the fact that their defense isn’t much to write home about. The final line as of this morning has the Falcons favored by 10 points, so Vegas isn’t putting much stock in the Jets abilities to contain the Atlanta offense. However, there is a reason to hope; both of the Falcons big, play-making Wide Receivers, Roddy White and Julio Jones have been battling injuries all season long and they will also be without their starting Running Back in Stephen Jackson. White has been hampered all season by a high ankle sprain and has not been much of a factor, running primarily short and intermediate routes and should be viewed more as a decoy than a legitimate threat.

The real key to this game will be the Game Plan that Offensive Coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg has devised to cut down on Geno Smith’s turnover problems. Given the fact that all three Running Backs are projected to be active and ready to go, I would expect a renewed commitment to the run and for the Jets’ Offense to shy away from the hurry-up. A three-headed running attack will keep the clock moving, limit the opportunities for Geno to turn the ball over, and will give the Defense a presumably much-needed rest. On top of that, it will make the down-field shots that Mornhinweg loves to call that much more effective off of the play-action. If the offense does not change then this could be a long night but save for three Geno turnovers, I would expect the Jets to cover.